Due to the environmental and health hazards brought about by the contaminants present in carwash wastewater, governments all over the world have created laws requiring car washes to integrate a wastewater recycling system in their businesses. These systems collect the carwash wastewater. They process it for future reuse in the various stages of car washing. Aside from its positive effect to the environment, a recycling system can also increase a car wash’s revenues by reducing its water consumption.
But as a startup, you would definitely want to know how much a wastewater recycling system costs. Also, how to estimate its price and which type best fits your business. Moreover, you are also curious about the factors that affect those costs and how to reduce them.
Types of Wastewater Recycling System
Open wastewater recycling systems used to be the only way to recycle water. In this system, carwash wastewater is collected, treated and directed towards a recycling system in the community. This makes carwash wastewater reusable for irrigating other areas like the municipal park, plants that surround government buildings, etc. However, the US Environmental Protection Agency has already proposed the ban of new drains connecting to vehicle well disposals. This means that opting for an open system will be a waste of money in the long run because eventually, you will have to install a closed loop system.
In a closed loop wastewater recycling system, water restoration and reuse is done right in the car wash facility. The recycling system will collect, settle, filter, aerate and store the wastewater for reuse over and over. Since the water is recycled repeatedly, the need for fresh water is limited to just a few gallons per car washed. Plus, you will also have the advantage of having enough water during dry or drought seasons.
Water reuse and recycling is just as important if you want to make a genuine contribution towards conserving the earth’s limited water supply. Here are the main types of wastewater recycling system:
Reuse System
This is the simplest but not necessarily the most effective way of recycling wastewater. Here, dirty water is collected in settling tanks where it is allowed to settle. After all the debris has settled, the water will be siphoned and used in the car wash. Since no chemical processes were involved, wastewater has a color and odor that is typical of used and dirty water.
Filtration and Ozone
Modern customers generally pay for their money’s worth. Do you think these people will return to your car wash once they find out that you are using brown, smelly water on their vehicle? The answer, of course is no, they never will and they might even tell prospective clients not to have their cars done in your shop. To prevent this from happening, you must consider a wastewater recycling system that includes filtration and ozone. This system is better because wastewater will have a cleaner appearance and no telling smell.
Water Restoration
If there is such a thing as “ultimate” in water restoration, then this is it. This wastewater recycling system takes reuse, filtration and ozone to a higher, or shall we say, a cleaner level. You can transform the dirty, smelly wastewater into clear and clean water that is suitable for rinsing. This is possible through frequent aeration which turns anaerobic bacteria to aerobic. These microorganisms can turn harmful chemicals into carbon dioxide and water.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Wastewater Recycling System
The cost of a wastewater recycling system is affected by the auto detailing products you use, the kinds and number of cars washed on a daily basis.
If, for example, you have a car wash that relies heavily on the use of harsh chemicals and cleans mostly trucks, SUVs and RVs, then your carwash wastewater is highly contaminated with grit, grime, oils and pollutants. Therefore, you cannot recycle it by simple means. You will need a closed loop system which can transform wastewater to a quality that is fit for rinsing. Such a system may cost anywhere from $35,000 to $100,000.
A Better Option
Yes, you have to invest a lot of money in a wastewater recycling system. Not to mention the time and effort you have to spend on processing documents and ensuring its quality.
But you can reduce these costs by using organic materials in order to lessen water contamination. Less toxic wastewater naturally requires less processing.
You can also make your business green which only uses a very minimal amount of water for cleaning as many as fifteen cars.
Would you like to learn more tips about wastewater recycling system and how to reduce its cost? Please feel free to visit us at www.detailxperts.com. We have enough information to help you out, whether you are just planning to have a carwash or have already started one.
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